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placare

to calm, to appease

verb plah-KAH-reh Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: From Latin placare (to appease, to pacify).

Also means

to pacify, to soothe

Usage Note

Placare implies bringing something turbulent to a state of calm — you placate an angry person, a storm, hunger (placare la fame), or a controversy. It is slightly more elevated than calmare and often appears in writing. The reflexive placarsi means 'to die down' or 'to calm down' (of a storm, anger, etc.).

Examples

"Niente riusciva a placare la sua rabbia."

Natural Translation

Nothing could appease his anger.

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